Headrest actuator for juvenile vehicle seat

ABSTRACT

A juvenile seat includes a base having a bottom seat portion, a lower back section coupled to the base and positioned to lie at an angle relative to the bottom seat portion, and a headrest coupled to the lower back section for up and down movement relative to the base and the lower back section. The juvenile seat also includes a height-adjustment mechanism coupled to the headrest for up and down movement with the headrest to adjust the height of the headrest above the bottom seat portion. The height-adjustment mechanism is movable between a locked position to prevent up and down movement of the headrest relative to the lower back section and an unlocked position to permit up and down movement of the headrest relative to the lower back section.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to seats for use by children in vehicles,and particularly, to booster seats having a back portion including aheadrest. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to ajuvenile booster seat having an apparatus for raising and lowering theheadrest portion of the juvenile booster seat.

Many juvenile booster seats are formed to include a headrest whichadjusts upwardly and downwardly relative to a bottom seat portion of thebooster seat. Such a booster seat can be adapted by a user to seatchildren of different sizes.

SUMMARY

According to the present disclosure, a juvenile seat includes a base anda lower back section coupled to the base and positioned to lie at anangle relative to the base. A headrest of the juvenile seat is coupledto the lower back section for up and down movement relative to the baseand the lower back section to accommodate small- and large-sizedchildren therein. The headrest includes a back plate and first andsecond side wall portions coupled to the back plate.

The juvenile seat further includes a height-adjustment mechanism foradjusting a height of the headrest above the bottom seat portion. Theheight-adjustment mechanism includes an actuator coupled to either oneof the first and second side wall portions of the headrest for up anddown movement with the headrest. The actuator is movable between alocked position to prevent up and down movement of the headrest relativeto the lower back section and an unlocked position to permit up and downmovement of the headrest relative to the lower back section.

The height-adjustment mechanism further includes a height-adjustment barcoupled to the actuator and bar receivers provided in the lower backsection. The height-adjustment bar engages one of the bar receivers inthe locked position to secure the headrest at a desired height relativeto the bottom seat portion. The height-adjustment mechanism isdisengaged from the bar receivers in the unlocked position to permit auser to adjust the height of headrest above the bottom seat portion.

Features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilledin the art upon consideration of the following detailed description ofillustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out thedisclosure as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figuresin which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a juvenile booster seat of thepresent disclosure showing a base and a seat back coupled to the baseand including a headrest located in a lowered position relative to thebase and arranged to move up and down relative to the base to adjust theheight of the headrest above a bottom seat portion of the base;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the booster seat showing theheadrest located in a raised position relative to the base and showing aheight-adjustment mechanism coupled to a rear portion of the seat backfor moving the headrest up and down relative to the base;

FIG. 3 is a front, exploded, perspective view of the booster seat ofFIGS. 1 and 2 showing the base, seat back, and headrest, the headrestbeing coupled to a lower back section of the seat back for up and downmovement relative to the base and the lower back section;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective, exploded view of the booster seat of FIGS.1 and 2 showing the headrest height-adjustment mechanism coupled to theheadrest and vertically spaced-apart slots formed in the lower backsection to mate with the headrest height-adjustment mechanism assuggested in FIGS. 7-10;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective, exploded view of a portion of the headrestheight-adjustment mechanism showing one of two actuators of theheight-adjustment mechanism, the actuator including a mount rigidlycoupled to the headrest of the seat back, an outer cover adapted to becoupled to the mount, a push-button, and a spring positionedsubstantially between the mount and the outer covers and also showing afirst end of a height-adjustment bar to be received within the actuator;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the mount shown in FIG. 5 (from anotherpoint of view) showing a slot for receiving a portion of theheight-adjustment bar therethrough;

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 1 showingthe actuator of the height-adjustment mechanism in a “locked” positionsuch that the height-adjustment bar is received within one of the slotsof the lower back section of the seat back;

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view similar to FIG. 7 of the actuator in an“unlocked” position showing the push-button having been moved againstthe bias of the spring to the right in the direction of the arrow tomove the height-adjustment bar out of engagement with the slots of thelower portion of the seat back;

FIG. 9 is a top sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 7 showingthe actuator in the locked position (as shown in FIG. 7, for example)such that the height-adjustment bar is received within one of the slotsof the lower back section of the seat back;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 9 showing a user havingmoved the push-button against the bias of the spring to an unlockedposition where the height-adjustment bar coupled to the push-button isdisengaged from the slots of the lower back section of the seat back;

FIGS. 11-14 are rear perspective views of a portion of the booster sheetshowing an “anti-backout” feature of the booster seat to prevent a userfrom unintentionally removing the headrest from the lower back sectionof the seat back when raising the headrest above the base;

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of a portion of the booster seatshowing the headrest being installed and lowered upon the lower backsection of the seat back, and further showing an anti-backout tab of theheadrest;

FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view similar to FIG. 11 showing theanti-backout tab of the headrest sliding past a cut-out of the lowerback section as the headrest is being installed, or lowered, onto thelower back section;

FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view similar to FIGS. 11 and 12 showingthe headrest installed onto the lower back section;

FIG. 14 is a rear view of the anti-backout feature of the booster seatshowing the anti-backout tab engaged with an upper lip portion of thelower back section of the seat back to prevent the user from furthermoving the headrest in an upward direction relative to the lower backsection;

FIG. 15 is a rear perspective, exploded view similar to FIG. 5 showing aportion of an alternative height-adjustment mechanism including a bar orpin coupled to each actuator instead of the height adjustment bar shownin FIG. 5 and showing the bar of the alternative mechanism coupled tothe push-button of the actuator to be received within the respectiveslots of the lower back section; and

FIG. 16 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 9 and 10 of the actuatorand pin of the alternative height-adjustment mechanism showing thealternative bar of in the locked position received within one of theslots of lower back section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A juvenile booster seat 10 is provided for supporting juveniles therein.Booster seat 10 may be coupled to a seat (not shown) within a vehicle(not shown), for example, to secure the juvenile within the vehicle.Although reference is made to a booster seat 10, it is within the scopeof this disclosure to include juvenile vehicle seats or other such seatsfor supporting and securing juveniles within a vehicle. Booster seat 10includes a height-adjustment mechanism or height-adjusting means 12 foradjusting the height of a headrest 14 of the seat 10 up and downrelative to a base 16 of the seat 10 to accommodate small- andlarge-sized children therein. Headrest 14 can be moved relative to base16 from a lowered position shown in FIG. 1 to a raised position shown inFIG. 2 by operating height-adjustment mechanism 12 as shown in FIGS. 8and 10 to release a height-adjustment bar 80 coupled to headrest 14 frombar-receiving slots or notches 64 formed in a stationary, lower backsection 40 coupled to base 16.

As shown in FIG. 1, booster seat 10 includes base 16 and a seat back 18coupled to base 16. Base 16 includes a bottom seat portion 20 adapted tosupport a juvenile's bottom and upper legs thereon, and a pair of sidewalls 22, 24 coupled to the bottom seat portion 20. First and secondside walls 22, 24 are provided for preventing lateral movement of thejuvenile seated in seat 10 and are located on opposite sides of bottomseat portion 20. Seat back 18 includes a stationary, lower back section40 coupled to base 16 and a headrest 14 mounted for up-and-down movementon lower back section 40.

A notch 26 is formed in each side wall 22, 24 for receiving portion of aseat belt (not shown) of the vehicle (not shown) therethrough toposition a portion of the seat belt over a juvenile's lap, for example,when the juvenile is seated on bottom seat portion 20. Notches 26 act todefine a front portion 28 of each side wall 22, 24 and a rear portion 30of each side wall 22, 24. As is discussed in greater detail below, therear portion 30 of each side wall acts as a lower back mounting sectionof the base 16 and is formed to receive a portion of the seat back 18thereon. A cushion or booster seat cover 32 is provided for covering thebase 16.

Seat back 18 of booster seat 10 is coupled to base 16 and positioned tolie at an angle to bottom seat portion 20 to extend upward from base 16generally perpendicularly to bottom seat portion 20. Seat back 18 iscoupled to base 16 by screws 34 received through corresponding apertures36 located at a bottom portion of seat back 18 and into correspondingapertures 38 of base 16. Seat back 18 includes a lower, stationary backsection 40 and an upper, movable section or headrest 14 coupled to lowerback section 40 for up and down movement relative to lower back section40 to adjust an overall height of seat back 18 above bottom seat portion20.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, lower back section 40 of seat back 18includes a vertical, planar body 44 and a pair of armrest shells 46, 48each coupled to body 44 at a lower end of body 44, as shown in FIG. 2,for example. Each armrest shell 46, 48 includes a top wall 45, sidewalls 47, and an end wall 49. Top wall 45, side walls 47, and end wall49 cooperate to define a cavity 50 formed to receive at least a portionof rear portion or lower back mounting section 30 of each respectiveside wall 22, 24 therein. Armrest shells 46, 48 and rear portions 30cooperate to form armrests 52 of booster seat 10, as shown, for example,in FIGS. 1 and 2, provided for a juvenile to rest his or her armsthereon.

Apertures 36 of seat back 18 are formed through body 44 of lower backsection 40 of seat back 18 to couple lower back section 40 to base 16.As mentioned above, lower back section 40 of seat 10 is coupled rigidlyto base 16 to provide for little or no relative movement between lowerback section 40 and base 16. Although base 16 and lower back section 40of illustrative booster seat 10 are separate components, it is withinthe scope of this disclosure for base 16 and lower back section 40 to beformed as a single, unitary component of seat 10.

Body 44 of lower back section 40 includes a front or planar wall 54having a substantially flat front surface 56 for a juvenile to rest hisor her back against. Body 44 further includes a substantially flat rearsurface 57, as shown in FIG. 4. A top wall 58 of body 44 is coupled toplanar wall 54 as well as opposite side walls or side rails 60, 62 whichare each coupled to planar wall 54 and top wall 58. As shown in FIGS. 3and 4, side walls 60, 62 are further positioned to lie in spaced-apartrelation to each other. Side walls 60, 62 and top wall 58 cooperate todefine an outer rim of body 44 coupled to planar wall 54 and arepositioned to extend in a rearward direction away from front surface 56of planar wall 54. Support ribs 59 of lower back section 40 are coupledto and extend between top wall 58 and a bottom wall 61 of lower backsection 40.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, a pair of bar receivers 78 of height-adjustmentmechanism 12 are provided in each side wall 60, 62 of body 44 of lowerback section 40. Each bar receiver 78 includes a plurality ofbar-receiving slots or notches 64 illustratively provided along avertical length of each respective side wall 60, 62. As will bediscussed in more detail below, each notch 64, or parallel set ofnotches 64, corresponds to a vertical height above bottom seat portion20 to which headrest 14 of seat back 18 may be positioned to accommodatea particular child, for example. Notches 64 of height-adjustmentmechanism 12 are provided to receive a separate portion ofheight-adjustment mechanism 12, specifically a height-adjustment bar 80,therein for adjusting and securing a height of headrest 14 above bottomseat portion 20 to accommodate small and large sized juveniles therein.

Height-adjustment bar 80 is provided to engage and disengage verticalbar receivers 78 to secure headrest 14 at a desired height above bottomseat portion 20. Although in the illustrative embodiment each barreceiver 78 is a respective side wall 60 or 62 appended to the body 44of lower back section 40, it is within the scope of this disclosure toform or position the one or more bar receivers 78 at any suitablelocation on the booster seat 10.

Looking now to FIGS. 3 and 4, headrest 14 of seat back 18 includes aback plate 66 and first and second wing member 68, 70 coupled toopposite edges of back plate 66 and positioned to lie in spaced-apartrelation to one another. Each wing member 68, 70 is oriented to lie atan angle relative to back plate 66, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, for example.Each wing member 68, 70 further includes a slot 71 formed to receive ashoulder strap portion (not shown) of a seat belt system (not shown) ofthe vehicle (not shown).

The up and down movement of headrest 14 relative to lower back section40 functions to raise and lower headrest 14 above bottom seat portion 20to adapt booster seat 10 to accommodate small- and large-sizedjuveniles. Headrest 14 moves up and down relative to base 16 and lowerback section 40 to assure proper fit for a juvenile seated in boosterseat 10. A caregiver can raise and lower headrest 14 to change theheight of headrest 14 by operating height-adjustment mechanism 12.Height-adjustment mechanism 12 is coupled to headrest 14 and isdescribed below in more detail. As shown in FIG. 4, a cover 42 iscoupled to headrest 14 and maintained thereon by an elastic strap 43extending across a back portion of headrest 14.

A portion of height-adjustment mechanism 12 of booster seat 10 operatesto adjust the height of the headrest 14 relative to base 16. A portionof height-adjustment mechanism 12 is coupled to headrest 14 andreceivable within notches or slots 64 formed in lower back section 40 tolock headrest 14 at a desired height above bottom seat portion 20 ofbase 16. Height-adjustment mechanism 12 includes a height-adjustment bar80 positioned to lie along a width of headrest 14 and lower back section40 illustratively below cover strap 43, as shown in FIG. 2, for example.Height-adjustment mechanism 12 further includes two actuators 82, 83coupled to height-adjustment bar 80. Illustratively, each actuator 82,83 is coupled to an outer end of bar 80 to position each actuator 82, 83substantially on one side of the booster seat 10 (as shown in FIG. 1,for example) for side operation of the height-adjustment mechanism 12 bya user or caregiver. The positioning of the actuators 82 on either sideof seat back 18 allows a user to actuate and move the height-adjustmentbar 80 of the height-adjustment mechanism 12 from both the front andback side of the seat back 18. As is discussed in greater detail below,actuators 82, 83 operate to bias height-adjustment bar 80 to a lockedposition received within one pair of the slots 64 of the lower backsection 40.

The actuators 82, 83 are identical to each other; therefore, referenceis made only to the left actuator 82 shown in FIGS. 5-10. Actuator 82includes an anchor mount 84 coupled to the headrest 14 of seat back 18.Illustratively, the anchor mounts 84 of each actuator 82, 83 are coupledto side wall portions 72, 74 of headrest 14. Each side wall portion 72,74 is coupled to back plate 66 and extends generally in a direction awayfrom a front surface 76 of back plate 66.

Actuator 82 further includes an outer cover 86 coupled to the anchormount 84 and a push-button 88 positioned between the anchor mount 84 andouter cover 86 for sliding movement relative to both the outer cover 86and anchor mount 84. A spring 90 is mounted between the push-button 88and anchor mount 84 normally to bias the push-button 88 toward a lockedposition, described in more detail below. The push-button 88 of eachactuator 82 is coupled to an end of the height-adjustment bar 80 suchthat the height-adjustment bar 80 is urged to move with each push-button88 between a locked position where the height-adjustment bar is engagedwith the slots 64 of the lower back section 40 an unlocked positionwhere the height-adjustment bar is disengaged from the slots 64 of thelower back section 40. Spring 90 operates as a locking means for movingthe push-button 88, and thus the height-adjustment bar 80 coupled to thepush-button 88 to the locked position.

As mentioned above, each anchor mount 84, as better shown in FIG. 6, iscoupled to one of the side wall portions 72, 74 of headrest 14. Anchormount 84 and side wall portions 72, 74 each include a guide slot 92formed to receive a portion or end of the height-adjustment bar 80therethrough. Slot 92 is substantially oval or elliptically shaped topermit sliding back and forth movement of the height-adjustment bar 80therein. Anchor mount 84 further includes an outer wall 93, oppositeouter side walls 94 spaced-apart from each other, and an outer end wall96 coupled to both side walls 94 and outer wall 93. A screw mount 96 iscoupled to each of the outer side walls 94 and is provided to receive ascrew 100 (shown in FIG. 5) therethrough to couple outer cover 86 toanchor mount 84.

A pair of inner side walls 110 of anchor mount 84 are each parallel toand spaced-apart from respective adjacent outer side walls 94. The innerside walls 110 are coupled to end wall 96. A spring-receiving channel112 is formed between the inner side walls 110 to receive spring 90therein. A first end 116 of spring 90 rests against an inside surface ofend wall 96, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, for example. Although anchormount 84 is described as being coupled to headrest 14, it is within thisdisclosure for anchor mount 84 and headrest 14 to be formed as a single,unitary component of booster seat 10. Anchor mount 82 includes a flangeor lip member 154 coupled to outer wall 93 as shown in FIG. 5. Lipmember 154 defines a slot or area between side wall portion 74 and lipmember 154 for receiving a portion of respective side wall 62 of lowerback section 40 therein.

Push-button 88 is generally square-shaped and includes a side or outerwall 118, opposite end walls 120 and a curved front wall 122. Inoperation, as is discussed below, a user engages curved front wall 122to move push-button 88 against the bias of spring 90 from the normallylocked position to an unlocked position to release height-adjustment bar80 from within the slots 64 of lower back section 40. As shown in FIG.5, push-button 88 further includes an inner member 124 coupled to outerwall 118 and formed to define an aperture or cavity 126 for receiving aportion of the height-adjustment bar 80 therein. Illustratively, an endportion 128 of the height-adjustment bar 80 is received therein for backand forth movement of the height-adjustment bar 80 with the push-button88 of each actuator 82, 83. A spring mount 130 of push-button 88 iscoupled to an outer surface of an end wall 132 of inner wall system 124for mounting a second end 134 of spring 90 thereon.

Push-button 88 is received at least in part within anchor mount 84 suchthat first and second end walls 120 of push-button 88 are eachpositioned within a button-receiving space 136 between respective outerside walls 94 of anchor mount 84 and inner side walls 110 of anchormount 84, as shown in FIG. 6. Spring 90 and at least a portion of innermember 124 are received within channel 112 of anchor mount 84. Cavity oraperture 126 of push-button 88 is generally aligned with slot 92 ofanchor mount 84 such that end portion 128 of height-adjustment bar 80 isreceived through slot 92 and into cavity 126 for back and forth movementwith push-button 88 within slot 92. Each spring 90 of actuators 82, 83functions normally to bias height-adjustment bar 80 to a locked positionin engagement with outer vertical bar anchor members or slots 64, asshown in FIGS. 7 and 9. Height-adjustment bar 80 is slidably movablewithin guide slots 92 in a generally horizontal direction relative toanchor mount 84 and outer cover 86 coupled to anchor mount 84.

Outer cover 86 of actuators 82, 83 includes an outer face plate 138 andside walls 140 appended thereto. Two apertures 142 are formed throughouter face plate 138 and are each provided for receiving a screw 100therethrough to couple outer cover 86 to anchor mount 84. As mentionedabove, each screw 100 is received within one of the respective screwmounts 98 of actuator mount 86. Although outer cover 86 is coupled toanchor mount 84 through the use of screws 100, it is within the scope ofthis disclosure to couple the outer cover 86 to anchor mount 84 usingother types of fasteners. Outer cover 86 includes a cut-out portion 144provided to allow the user to see and engage a portion of thepush-button 88 including the curved front wall 122 of push-button 88 aswell as a portion of the outer wall 118 of push-button 88. As mentionedabove, the components of actuator 82 are identical to the components ofactuator 83; therefore, like reference numerals have been usedthroughout the drawings.

As is mentioned above, bar receivers 78 are provided in the side walls60, 62 of lower back section 40 of seat back 18. However, it is withinthe scope of this disclosure to include other bar receivers provided inlower back section 40 of seat back 18. Further, it is within the scopeof this disclosure to include only one set of vertical slots 64 providedin lower back section 40 or more than one set of vertical slots, such asthe pair of bar receivers 78 shown herein. Each vertical bar receiver 78is formed to include a plurality of panel height locators such asvertically spaced-apart bar-receiving slots 64 for receivingheight-adjustment bar 80 therein to establish a fixed position ofheadrest 14 relative to the underlying bottom seat portion 20 of base16. Height-adjustment bar 80 is received within one of the slots 64 whenin the locked position.

As shown in FIG. 4, slot 150 is located to define the “lowest” positionof the headrest 14 and slot 152 is located to define the “highest”position of headrest 14. Illustratively, seven slots are provided toprovide for seven distinct positions of the headrest 14 above bottomseat portion 20 of base 16. It is within this disclosure, however, toprovide any suitable number of panel height locators (or slots) forreceiving the height-adjustment bar 80 therein to position the headrest14 at any number of heights above bottom seat portion 20. Although onlythe outer slots of outer bar receivers 78 are provided, as shown in FIG.4, it is within the disclosure to include an inner or centrally locatedpanel of slots for receiving the height-adjustment bar 80 therein.

Illustratively, height-adjustment mechanism 12 includes actuators 82, 83coupled to headrest 14, height-adjustment bar 80 coupled to actuators82, 83, and bar receivers 78 including slots 64 for receivingheight-adjustment bar 80 therein to secure headrest 14 at a certainheight above bottom seat portion 20. Illustratively, the lower backsection 40 of seat back 18 nests within the headrest 14, as shown inFIG. 2, such that a portion of each side wall 60, 62 of lower backsection 40 is positioned to lie between side wall portions 72, 74 ofheadrest 14. Further, a portion of base 16 rests within lower backsection 40 of seat back 18. Specifically, as mentioned above, rearportions 30 of base 16 are received within the cavities 50 of respectivearmrest shells 46, 48 and cooperate with armrest shells 46, 48 to formarmrests 52 of booster seat 10.

The nesting of the lower back section 40 within the headrest 14 providesfor a small offset distance between front surface 56 of lower backsection 40 and front surface 76 of headrest 14 in order to provide asmooth and continuous seat back 18 for the juvenile seated within seat10. A portion of planar front surface 56 of lower back section 40engages a portion of rear planar surface 67 of headrest 14. Side walls72, 74 of headrest 14, rear planar surface 67 of headrest 14, and a topwall 69 of headrest 14 cooperate to define an area or cavity formed toreceive a portion of planar body 44 of lower back section 40 therein.Thus, top wall 98 and an upper portion of side walls 60, 62, and anupper portion of planar wall 54 of body 44 are received within the areaof the headrest 14 defined by top wall 69, side wall portions 72, 74,and rear planar surface 67. Booster seat 10 includes, therefore, meansfor aligning headrest 14 to lower back section 40 to produce smalloffset 190 and allow movement of headrest 14 relative to lower backsection 40.

In operation, a user 164 may depress push-button 88 against the bias ofspring 90 of each actuator 82, 83 to disengage height-adjustment bar 80from within one of the panel height locator slots 64 of the lower backsection 40, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10. Each push-button 88, therefore,provides means for moving the headrest to the unlocked position byallowing a user to move the each push-button 88, and thus theheight-adjustment bar 80, against the bias of spring 90 to release theheight-adjustment bar 80 from within one of the slots 64. As mentionedabove, actuators 82, 83 are positioned at each end 128 ofheight-adjustment bar 80 such that each actuator 82, 83 is accessible bythe user 164 from the front, back or side of booster seat 10.

Once height-adjustment bar 80 is disengaged from the panel heightlocator slots 56, the user may adjust the height of the headrest 14 upand down relative to the bottom seat portion 20. Once a desired heighthas been reached, the user may then release the push-button 88 of eachactuator 82, 83. The bias of the each spring 90 will move eachrespective push-button 88 to the undepressed or unactivated position toalso move the height-adjustment bar 80 therewith into engagement withone of the pair of slots 56 of the panel height locator slots.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, height-adjustment mechanism 12 is in thelocked position where height-adjustment bar 80 is received within a pairof the slots 64 of the bar receivers 78 and the push-button 88 is biasedto the undepressed position by spring 90. As shown in FIG. 10, user 164grasps actuator 82 and urges push-button 88 (and height-adjustment bar80 coupled to push-button 88) against the bias of spring 90 to movepush-button 88 in a generally horizontal direction away from lower backsection 40 of seat back 18 to the release position. Illustratively,height-adjustment bar 80 moves within guide slot 92 of headrest 14 andanchor mount 84.

Once in the release position, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, user 164 maymove actuators 82, 83 in a generally vertical direction up and down tomove headrest 14 (coupled to actuators 82, 83) up and down in order toadjust the height of headrest 14 relative to bottom seat portion 20 ofseat 10. Once headrest 14 is moved to the desired position, user 164releases push-buttons 88 to allow springs 90 to bias each respectivepush-button 88 (and height-adjustment bar 80 coupled thereto) to thelocked position within one of the slots 64 of outer vertical barreceivers 78.

Looking now to FIGS. 15 and 16, an alternative height adjustmentmechanism 212 is provided. Alternative height-adjustment mechanism 212is similar to height-adjustment mechanism 12 discussed above. Therefore,like reference numerals have been used to denote like components. Forexample, height-adjustment mechanism 212 includes actuators 82, 83coupled to headrest 14, an alternative height-adjustment bar or pin 280coupled to each actuator 82, 83, and bar receivers 78 including slots 64for receiving respective height-adjustment bars 280 therein to secureheadrest 14 at a certain height above bottom seat portion 20. As shownin FIGS. 15 and 16, alternative height-adjustment bar 280 is coupled topush-button 88 of actuator 82 to be received within bar receivers 78 inthe locked position. As discussed above and shown in the figures, bar 80of mechanism 12 is coupled at each end to the push-button 88 of therespective actuators 82, 83 and extends across headrest 14 between eachactuator 82, 83. Alternative mechanism 212, on the other hand, includestwo bars 280; each bar 280 is coupled to one of the actuators 82, 83.Bars 280 extend only partially across headrest 14 between actuators 82,83. Illustratively, the height-adjustment bars or 280 ofheight-adjustment mechanism 212 operate in the same manner as heightadjustment bar 80 described above. The term “bar”, therefore, isintended to refer to both height-adjustment bar 80 of mechanism 12 andheight-adjustment bar 280 of mechanism 212.

As mentioned above, booster seat 10 further includes an “anti-backout”feature or mechanism 170, best shown in FIGS. 5, and 11-14. Theanti-backout mechanism 170 prevents a user from unintentionally raisingthe headrest 14 so high above bottom seat portion 20 so as to remove theheadrest 14 from the lower back section 40. In other words, theanti-backout mechanism 170 prevents the user from removing the headrest14 from the lower back section 40. The illustrative booster seat 10includes two anti-backout mechanisms 170. A portion of each anti-backoutmechanism 170 is coupled to headrest 14 and positioned to lie above eachrespective anchor mount 84. The features of only one anti-backoutmechanism 170 are described herein. The other anti-backout mechanism 170includes the same features and components, thus like reference numeralshave been used.

As shown in FIG. 5, the anti-backout mechanism 170 includes a flange 172coupled to side wall portion 74 of headrest 14. The flange (not shown)of the other anti-backout mechanism 170 is coupled to side wall portion72 or headrest 14. Flange 172 is formed to define a channel 174 forreceiving a portion of lower back section 40 therein. Specifically,channel 174 of flange 172 receives a portion of side wall 62 therein, asshown best in FIGS. 12 and 13. Illustrative flange 172 wraps around sidewall 62 to align lower back section 40 with headrest 14 such that lowerback section 40 nests within the back plate 66 and side wall portions72, 74 of headrest 14. As headrest 14 moves up and down relative tolower back section 40 flanges 172 help maintain alignment betweenheadrest 14 and lower back section 40.

A tab 176 of anti-backout mechanism 170 is coupled to flange 172 andextends upwardly from flange 172, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIGS. 11-14.Tab 176 is positioned to lie at an angle offset from a vertical axis178, as shown in FIG. 14. Tab 176 acts as a stop to prevent upwardmovement of headrest 14 relative to lower back section 40 beyond acertain point or elevation.

Each anti-backout mechanism 170 further includes a cut-out portion 180of lower back section 40 formed where each side wall 60, 62 meets topwall 58 of lower back section 40. Cut-out portions 180 form a ledge 182of top wall 58 therebetween.

Looking now to FIGS. 11-12, seatback 30 is assembled by sliding headrest14 onto lower back section 40 such that lower back section 40 nestswithin side wall portions 72, 74 of headrest 14. As shown in FIGS. 11and 12, headrest 14 is slid downwardly onto lower back section 40 such aportion of side wall portions 72, 74 are received within respectiveflanges 172 of anti-backout feature 170. Tab 176 is urged to slidethrough cut-out portion or corner notch 180 and may bend inwardly towardrespective side wall portions 72, 74 as each tab 176 is urged throughthe notch 180. Once headrest 14 has been moved sufficiently downwardlyonto lower back section 40 such that each tab 176 has slid fully past orthrough notch 180, each tab 176 springs back to the opened position.

In operation, anti-backout mechanism 170 operates to restrict upwardmovement of the headrest 14 relative to the lower back section 40 beyonda certain height in order to prevent a user from unintentionallyremoving headrest 14 from lower back section 40 where adjusting headrest14 upwardly. As shown in FIG. 14, tab 176 engages a portion of ledge 182near cut-out portion or notch 180 when headrest 14 has been movedupwardly to the maximum height above bottom seat portion 20. Tabs 176thus act as stops or stoppers when engaging ledge 182 to prevent theuser from raising headrest 14 any further.

If desired, however, a user may remove headrest 14 from lower backsection 40 by pressing each tab 176 toward the respective side wall 60,62 of the lower back section 40. By moving the tabs 176 to this verticalor closed position, the user is able to continue to slide the headrest14 upwardly relative to lower back section 40 by sliding the closed tabs176 through respective notches 180, as described above with respect tocoupling the headrest 14 to the lower back section 40.

1. A juvenile seat comprising a base including a bottom seat portion, aseat back including a lower back section arranged to extend upwardlyfrom the base and positioned to lie at an angle relative to the bottomseat portion and a headrest coupled to the lower back section andconfigured to move up and down relative to the bottom seat portion andthe lower back section, the lower back section including a front walland spaced-apart first and second side walls coupled to the front wall,and height-adjustor means for adjusting a height of the headrestrelative to the bottom seat portion so that the headrest is able to movebetween a locked position blocking up-and-down movement of the headrestrelative to the lower back section and an unlocked position allowingup-and-down movement of the headrest relative to the lower back section,wherein the height-adjustor means includes a first actuator coupled tothe headrest, first bar receivers formed in the first side wall of thelower back section, and a first height-adjustment bar coupled to thefirst actuator and mounted for movement relative to the lower backsection to engage the first bar receivers formed in the lower backsection in the locked position of the headrest to secure the headrest ata desired height relative to the bottom seat portion and to disengagethe first bar receivers formed in the lower back section in the unlockedposition of the headrest, and wherein the height-adjustor means furtherincludes a second actuator coupled to the headrest, second bar receiversformed in the second side wall of the lower back section, and a secondheight-adjustment bar coupled to the second actuator and mounted formovement relative to the lower back section to engage the second barreceivers formed in the lower back section in the locked position of theheadrest to secure the headrest at a desired height relative to thebottom seat portion and to disengage the second bar receivers formed inthe lower back section in the unlocked position of the headrest, whereinthe headrest includes a back plate, a first side wall coupled to theback plate, and a second side wall coupled to the back plate andarranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first side wall of theheadrest, the first actuator includes an anchor mount coupled to thefirst side wall of the headrest, a push button coupled to the firstheight-adjustment bar and configured to move relative to the anchormount between the locked position and the unlocked position, and aspring coupled to the push button, the first height-adjustment bar iscoupled to the push button to move therewith, and the spring is arrangedto bias the push button to the locked position to engage the firstheight-adjustment bar with one of the first bar receivers, and whereinthe anchor mount includes an outer wall coupled to the headrest,opposite outer side walls spaced apart from one another, an outer endwall coupled to the opposite outer side walls and to the outer wall, anda pair of inner side walls arranged to lie between the opposite outerside walls and formed to define therebetween a channel receiving thespring therein.
 2. The juvenile seat of claim 1, wherein the push buttonincludes an outer wall, opposite end walls, a front wall adapted to beengaged by a user, and an inner member coupled to the outer wall of thepush button, the first height-adjustment bar is coupled to the innermember of the push button to move therewith, and the spring is arrangedto apply a yieldable biasing force to the inner member.
 3. A juvenileseat comprising a base including a bottom seat portion, a seat backincluding a lower back section arranged to extend upwardly from the baseand positioned to lie at an angle relative to the bottom seat portionand a headrest coupled to the lower back section and configured to moveup and down relative to the bottom seat portion and the lower backsection, the lower back section including a front wall and spaced-apartfirst and second side walls coupled to the front wall, andheight-adjustor means for adjusting a height of the headrest relative tothe bottom seat portion so that the headrest is able to move between alocked position blocking up-and-down movement of the headrest relativeto the lower back section and an unlocked position allowing up-and-downmovement of the headrest relative to the lower back section, wherein theheight-adjustor means includes a first actuator coupled to the headrest,first bar receivers formed in the first side wall of the lower backsection, and a first height-adjustment bar coupled to the first actuatorand mounted for movement relative to the lower back section to engagethe first bar receivers formed in the lower back section in the lockedposition of the headrest to secure the headrest at a desired heightrelative to the bottom seat portion and to disengage the first barreceivers formed in the lower back section in the unlocked position ofthe headrest, and wherein the height-adjustor means further includes asecond actuator coupled to the headrest, second bar receivers formed inthe second side wall of the lower back section, and a secondheight-adjustment bar coupled to the second actuator and mounted formovement relative to the lower back section to engage the second barreceivers formed in the lower back section in the locked position of theheadrest to secure the headrest at a desired height relative to thebottom seat portion and to disengage the second bar receivers formed inthe lower back section in the unlocked position of the headrest, whereinthe headrest includes a lip member arranged to lie in spaced-apartrelation to the first side wall of the headrest to define a slottherebetween and the lower back section is mounted for sliding movementin the slot during movement of the headrest relative to the lower backsection.
 4. The juvenile seat of claim 3, wherein the lip member isformed to include an auxiliary guide slot, the first side wall of theheadrest is formed to include a horizontal guide slot, and the firstheight-adjustment bar is arranged to extend through the horizontal guideslot, one of a plurality of vertically spaced slots cooperating todefine the first bar receivers, and the auxiliary guide slot uponmovement of the first height-adjustment bar to said locked position. 5.A juvenile seat comprising a base including a bottom seat portion, aseat back including a lower back section arranged to extend upwardlyfrom the base and a headrest mounted on the lower back section forup-and-down movement thereon relative to the base, and two-partengagement means for locking the headrest in a fixed position on thelower back section, the two-part engagement means including a firstheight-adjustment bar associated with a first side of the lower backsection and arranged to mate with the headrest and one of several slotsformed in the first side of the lower back section to establish thefixed position of the headrest on the lower back section and a separatesecond height-adjustment bar associated with an opposite second side ofthe lower back section and arranged to mate with the headrest and one ofseveral slots formed in the opposite second side of the lower backsection to help establish the fixed position of the headrest on thelower back section wherein the headrest includes a lip member arrangedto lie in spaced-apart relation to the first side wall to define a slottherebetween, a portion of the lower back section is mounted for slidingmovement in the slot during movement of the headrest relative to thelower back section, and the portion of the lower back section is formedto include several slots formed in the first side wall.
 6. The juvenileseat of claim 5, wherein the two-part engagement means further includesa first actuator coupled to a first side wall on the lower back sectionand to the first height-adjustment bar and configured to provide meansfor moving the first height-adjustment bar relative to the first sidewall.
 7. The juvenile seat of claim 6, wherein the first actuatorincludes an anchor mount coupled to the first side wall, a first pushbutton coupled to the first height-adjustment bar to move therewithrelative to the anchor mount, and a first spring coupled to the firstpush button and arranged to urge the first push button and the firstheight-adjustment bar to move as a unit normally to a locked positioncausing the first height-adjustment bar to mate with one of the severalslots formed in the first side wall.
 8. The juvenile seat of claim 7,wherein the first anchor mount includes an outer wall coupled to thefirst side wall of the headrest, opposite outer side walls spaced apartfrom one another, an outer end wall coupled to the opposite outer sidewalls and to the outer wall, and a pair of inner side walls arranged tolie between the opposite outer side walls and formed to definetherebetween a channel receiving the first spring therein.
 9. Thejuvenile seat of claim 8, wherein the first push button includes anouter wall, opposite end walls, a front wall adapted to be engaged by auser, and an inner member coupled to the outer wall of the first pushbutton and the first height-adjustment bar is coupled to the innermember of the first push button to move therewith, and the first springis arranged to apply a yieldable biasing force to the inner member. 10.The juvenile seat of claim 9, wherein the first actuator furtherincludes an outer cover coupled to the first anchor mount to fomi aninterior region receiving the first spring and the first push buttontherein.
 11. The juvenile seat of claim 9, wherein the first spring hasa first end engaging the outer wall of the first push button and asecond end engaging the outer end wall of the first anchor mount. 12.The juvenile seat of claim 6, wherein the two-part engagement meansfurther includes a second actuator coupled to the second side wall andto the second height-adjustment bar and configured to provide means formoving the second height-adjustment bar relative to the second sidewall.
 13. The juvenile seat of claim 12, wherein the first actuatorincludes a first anchor mount coupled to the first side wall, a firstpush button coupled to the first height-adjustment bar to move therewithrelative to the first anchor mount, and a first spring coupled to thefirst push button and arranged to urge the push button and the firstheight-adjustment bar to move as a unit normally to a locked positioncausing the first height-adjustment bar to mate with one of the severalslots formed in the first side wall and wherein the second actuatorincludes a second anchor mount coupled to the second side wall, a secondpush button coupled to the second height-adjustment bar to movetherewith relative to the second anchor mount, and a second springcoupled to the second push button bar and arranged to urge the secondpush button and the second height-adjustment bar to move as a unitnormally to a locked position causing the second height-adjustment barto mate with one of the several slots formed in the second side wall.14. The juvenile seat of claim 5, wherein the lip member is formed toinclude an auxiliary guide slot, the first side wall of the headrest isformed to include a horizontal guide slot, and the firstheight-adjustment bar is arranged to extend through the horizontal guideslot, one of the several slots formed in the first side wall, and theauxiliary guide slot upon movement of the first height-adjustment bar tosaid locked position.
 15. The juvenile seat of claim 5, wherein thetwo-part engagement means further includes a spring-loaded push buttoncoupled to the first height-adjustment bar and arranged to move in ahousing coupled to the headrest to move therewith and to move the firstheight-adjustment bar relative to the headrest and to the lower backportion.
 16. A juvenile seat comprising a seat base including a bottomseat portion, a seat back including a headrest and a lower back sectionformed to include rearwardly opening vertically spaced slots, the lowerback section being coupled to the seat base to lie at an angle relativeto the bottom seat portion, the headrest being coupled to the lower backsection for up-and-down movement relative to the lower back section, theheadrest including a back plate, a first side wall coupled to the backplate, and a second side wall coupled to the back plate and spaced apartfrom the first side wall, and a headrest height-adjustor including afirst actuator coupled to the first side wall, a second actuator coupledto the second side wall, and a separate height-adjustment bar coupled toeach of the first and second actuators, each height-adjustment bar beingconfigured to move between a locked position engaged with one of severalrearwardly opening vertically spaced slots formed in the lower backsection and an unlocked position disengaged from the rearwardly openingvertically spaced slots formed in the lower back section.
 17. Thejuvenile seat of claim 16, wherein the first actuator includes a firstanchor mount coupled to the first side wall of the headrest, a firstpush button coupled to a first of the height-adjustment bars and beingconfigured to move relative to the first anchor mount between the lockedposition and the unlocked position, and a first spring coupled to thefirst push button, and the first spring is arranged to bias the firstpush button to the locked position when the first height-adjustment baris engaged with one of the several vertically spaced slots formed in thelower back section.
 18. The juvenile seat of claim 16, wherein the firstside wall of the headrest is formed to include a first horizontal guideslot sized and arranged to receive a first of the separateheight-adjustment bars therethrough and the second side wall of theheadrest is formed to include a second horizontal guide slot sized andarranged to receive a second of the separate height-adjustment barstherethrough to allow each of the first and second height-adjustmentbars to move horizontally and independently back and forth relative tothe headrest between the locked and unlocked positions.
 19. The juvenileseat of claim 16, wherein each of the first and second actuators includean anchor mount coupled to one of the respective first and second sidewalls of the headrest and an outer cover coupled to the anchor mount andwherein each anchor mount includes a channel sized and arranged toreceive a spring.
 20. The juvenile seat of claim 19, wherein each of thefirst and second actuators further includes an outer cover coupled tothe respective anchor mount and the push button of each of the first andsecond actuators is positioned between the respective anchor mount andthe respective outer cover.
 21. The juvenile seat of claim 16, whereinthe headrest includes a lip member arranged to lie in spaced-apartrelation to the first side wall to define a slot, a portion of the lowerback section is mounted for sliding movement in the slot during movementof the headrest relative to the lower back section, and the portion ofthe lower back section is formed to include the several verticallyspaced slots.
 22. The juvenile seat of claim 21, wherein the lip memberis formed to include an auxiliary guide slot, the first side wall of theheadrest is formed to include a horizontal guide slot, and the firstheight-adjustment bar is arranged to extend through the horizontal guideslot, one of the vertically spaced slots, and the auxiliary guide slotupon movement of the first height-adjustment bar to said lockedposition.
 23. A juvenile seat comprising a base having a bottom seatportion, a seat back including a lower back section coupled to the baseto lie at an angle to the bottom seat portion of the base, a pluralityof vertically spaced slots provided in the lower back section, and aheadrest coupled to the lower back section for up-and-down movementrelative to the lower back section, the headrest including a back plate,a first side wall coupled to the back late, and a second side wallcoupled to the back plate and spaced apart from the first side wall, anda headrest-height adjustor including a first actuator coupled to thefirst side wall and formed to include a first spring and a first pushbutton, a second actuator coupled to the second side wall and formed toinclude a second spring and a second push button, a firstheight-adjustment bar coupled to the first push button, and a secondheight-adjustment bar separated from the first height-adjustment bar andcoupled to the second push button, each height-adjustment bar beingmovable independently between a locked position engaged with one of thevertically spaced slots provided in the lower back section and anunlocked position disengaged from the vertically spaced slots providedin the lower back section wherein the headrest includes a lip memberananged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first side wall to definea slot therebetween, a portion of the lower back section is mounted forsliding movement in the slot during movement of the headrest relative tothe lower back portion, and the portion of the lower back section isformed to include the plurality of vertically spaced slots.
 24. Thejuvenile seat of claim 23, wherein the first side wall of the headrestincludes a first horizontal guide slot formed to receive the firstheight-adjustment bar therethrough and the second side wall of theheadrest includes a second horizontal guide slot formed to receive thesecond height-adjustment bar therethrough to allow each of the first andsecond height-adjustment bars to move horizontally and independentlyback and forth relative to the headrest between the locked and unlockedpositions.
 25. The juvenile seat of claim 23, wherein the first andsecond actuators each include an anchor mount coupled to one of therespective first and second side walls of the headrest and wherein eachanchor mount includes a channel formed to receive the respective firstand second springs therein.
 26. The juvenile seat of claim 25, whereineach of the first and second actuators further includes an outer covercoupled to the respective anchor mount and the push button of each ofthe first and second actuators is positioned between the respectiveanchor mount and the respective outer cover.
 27. The juvenile seat ofclaim 23, wherein the lip member is formed to include an auxiliary guideslot, the first side wall of the headrest is formed to include ahorizontal guide slot, and the first height-adjustment bar is arrangedto extend through the horizontal guide slot, one of the plurality ofvertically spaced slots, and the auxiliary guide slot upon movement ofthe first height-adjustment bar to said locked position.
 28. Thejuvenile seat of claim 23, wherein the headrest includes a back plate, afirst side wall coupled to the back plate, and a second side wallcoupled to the back plate and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relationto the first side wall of the headrest, the first actuator includes afirst anchor mount coupled to the first side wall of the headrest, afirst push button coupled to the first height-adjustment bar andconfigured to move relative to the first anchor mount between the lockedposition and the unlocked position, and a first spring coupled to thefirst push button, the first height-adjustment bar is coupled to thefirst push button to move therewith, and the first spring is arranged tobias the first push button to the locked position to engage the firstheight-adjustment bar with one of the vertically spaced slots.
 29. Thejuvenile seat of claim 28, wherein the first anchor mount includes anouter wall coupled to the headrest, opposite outer side walls spacedapart from one another, an outer end wall coupled to the opposite outerside walls and to the outer wall, and a pair of inner side wallsarranged to lie between the opposite outer side walls and formed todefine therebetween a channel receiving the first spring therein. 30.The juvenile seat of claim 29, wherein the first push button includes anouter wall, opposite end walls, a front wall adapted to be engaged by auser, and an inner member coupled to the outer wall of the first pushbutton, and the first height-adjustment bar is coupled to the innermember of the first push button to move therewith, and the first springis arranged to apply a yieldable biasing force to the inner member.